The Future of American Democracy
A Conversation with Michael Wldman
Rabbi Albert Lewis believed that our Jewish values call us to pursue justice, strengthen our communities, and take responsibility for the world around us. At a moment when democratic institutions, constitutional principles, and public trust are facing profound challenges, we are honored to welcome Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, for a timely conversation about the future of American democracy.
We warmly invite you to Temple Isaiah for prayer, song, and community as we celebrate Shabbat together on Friday evening. Following services, Waldman will join us as part of our Rabbi Albert Lewis Memorial Lecture Series.
Together, we’ll explore the forces shaping American democracy today—from the role of the courts and the Constitution to voting rights, political power, and the responsibilities of citizens. What does democracy require of us when trust in our institutions is tested? How do we protect the principles that hold a diverse democracy together? And what can each of us do to strengthen the civic life we share?
Join us for an illuminating conversation about democracy, justice, and the enduring responsibility to shape the future of our country.
About Michael Waldman
Michael Waldman is president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, a nonpartisan law and policy institute focused on strengthening systems of democracy and justice. A constitutional lawyer and writer, Waldman is an expert on the presidency and American democracy and has led the Brennan Center since 2005. He also served as a member of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court in 2021.
From 1995 to 1999, Waldman served as director of speechwriting for President Bill Clinton and as assistant to the president. During his time in the White House, he wrote or edited nearly 2,000 speeches, including four State of the Union addresses and two inaugural addresses. Previously, he served as special assistant to the president for policy coordination.
Waldman is the author of The Supermajority: How the Supreme Court Divided America, The Fight to Vote, and The Second Amendment: A Biography, as well as several other books on American politics, government, law, and history. The Fight to Vote traces the long struggle for voting rights in the United States, while The Supermajority examines the changing role and influence of the Supreme Court in American political life.
He frequently appears on television and radio to discuss law, policy, the presidency, and American democracy, and his writing has appeared in national publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, Reuters, and Bloomberg. Waldman is a graduate of Columbia College and NYU School of Law.